Meet The Legends And VIPs Of Singapore’s Nightlife Scene

Some of the 17 people spotlighted here have been in the nightlife business way before the Covid‐19 pandemic – decades even. Others less, but have been for much of their lives deep into music, vibing it out on dance floors and making sure everyone around has a helluva good time. Their endeavours range from a modest neighbourhood bar to conglomerate‐backed, multi‐concept spaces and a multifarious network of pop‐up parties, all of which have been making an extra‐loud splash in the past year. What else they all have in common: they’re rethinking and reshaping party culture for the future – or, to paraphrase Charli XCX, they’re bumpin’ it.

RITZ LIM & BOBBY LUO

WHO THEY ARE: By day, both are co‐owners of Super Freak, the madcap multi‐label boutique in Stamford Court that stocks colourful, progressive brands such as Pleaser and Bernhard Willhelm (Lim’s namesake salon, Ritz Salon, shares the site). By night, they’re icons of the Singapore nightlife scene – a role they’ve held unofficially since they were legal to club. 

THEIR PARTY CRED: They co‐founded the seminal and wildly fashion‐forward hip‐hop and electroclash club The Butter Factory, a go‐to joint in the 2000s for those in the fashion, creative and queer communities. And while that shuttered in 2015, both are continuing their joint life mission of sprinkling fairy dust on Singapore’s party culture through an assortment of pop‐up parties that cater to various facets of the queer community. These range from the monthly R&B night Baby Boy to the quarterly techno rave Miss Homo – a collaboration with the independent party organiser Fomohomo – and after‐parties for the Crystal Ball and Pinki Kiki Ball – both led by Vogue In Progress, a group that has been pivotal in popularising ballroom culture here and that Luo is a part of. 

FUN FACTS: Luo cut his teeth in nightlife as a part‐time lighting controller at the restaurant‐by‐day, nightclub‐by‐night Rasa Sayang – located in the now‐defunct entertainment complex Tropicana – in the 1980s, then became a set designer for the original Zouk on Jiak Kim Street in the ’90s. The latter nightspot was also where he met Lim in 1991, and they’ve been partners in work, life and love since.

STEFAN KWANG

WHO HE IS: He’s the one in charge of partnerships, collaborations, PR and VIP guest relations at the many parties staged by industry veterans Bobby Luo and Ritz Lim, bringing first‐class, old‐school hospitality and service to new‐gen club culture. That he works as head of brand and marketing at a home‐grown luxury jeweller means he does so with plenty of style too. 

HIS PARTY CRED: Before he became a close collaborator of Luo and Lim, he was one of their most rambunctious and well‐loved regulars at their iconic 2000s club The Butter Factory, and could be counted on for his bold moves and makeup on the dance floor. He was also instrumental in encouraging Luo to create new parties for the queer and creative community after Butter closed in 2015.

HOW HE GOT INTO PARTYING: “I’ve always enjoyed being surrounded by music and people, so when I got close to this group of foreign exchange students who were older and enjoyed exploring different venues and nights in Singapore in the 2000s, I was hooked.” 

FUN FACT: “When I was barely legal, my dad drove the whole family onto Jiak Kim Street after dinner one night and told me that Zouk would be somewhere that I would go in future.”

NATHANAEL NG

WHO HE IS: Visual artist, commercial stylist and one‐third of the 12‐year‐old Singapore fashion label Mash‐up who manages the social media for the various parties organised by Bobby Luo and Ritz Lim.

HIS PARTY CRED: Some of the most fun and creative nights at The Butter Factory were Bash‐up nights, which were jointly organised with Mash‐up, and featured electroclash and themes (complete with props) inspired by the fashion world. Fast forward to 2017 and it was Ng who proposed to Luo the idea of holding a hip‐hop‐slash‐R&B night for the queer community, resulting in the birth of the now‐monthly Baby Boy party series that never fails to pack out. Oh, and he’s trained in waacking, so expect him to hypnotise the dance floor too. 

HIS MUST‐HAVES FOR A GOOD PARTY: “Good music, a good sound system and air con!”

AARON SHEN (LEFT) AND NEVILLE LING (RIGHT)

WHO THEY ARE: The Gen Z founders (both are 25) of the music-focused, cocktail-forward joint Santai, which opened along East Coast Road just a stone’s throw away from Siglap Centre seven months ago. Shen’s grandparents operated a sports bar named POD – short for Philosophy Of Drinking – in the same spot for 17 years before he and Ling, who goes by his hanyu pinyin name Cher, decided to give it a fresh lease of life after the pandemic reduced crowds. The business isn’t new to them. Both worked at POD part-time growing up while Ling has been a bartender at the likes of Thugshop.

THEIR PARTY CRED: When did residential Siglap ever have a nightspot this vibey? With a name that’s the Bahasa Indonesia term for relax, Santai has drawn partygoers – particularly young ones – from all across the island with its lively, often funk and hip hop-inflected DJ sets featuring emerging names such as DJ Zai and Shane2Sweet. Affordable drinks that average $17 a glass, pop-up kitchen partnerships with equally young F&B players, and a convivial air make it all the more bussin’. Says Shen: “We did not intentionally try to make Santai a party spot. We just felt that the F&B scene in the area lacked direction and wanted to change that.”

AN EMERGING NIGHTLIFE TREND: “The return of old-school hip-hop: Nas, DMX, MF Doom, just to name a few. We want that back.”

WHERE ELSE THEY WOULD PARTY: “Any Strange Weather event! We love the collective’s mysteriousness, lighting and venue setup, and unpredictable beats. You never know what you’re in for.”  

HASNOR SIDIK

WHO HE IS: The guy tasked to help the Singapore EDITION live up to the global boutique hotel group’s reputation for being at the forefront of culture, luxury and fun (the brand’s a joint venture between Marriott International and Ian Schrager, who co-founded Studio 54 in New York) as its director of culture and entertainment

HIS PARTY CRED: Has – as he’s more popularly referred to – started DJ-ing in the late ’90s when he was 17, and was the music director for not one, but two forward-thinking lifestyle hospitality giants: W Hotels and The Lo & Behold Group. In 2018, he co-founded the Telok Ayer Arts Club, a bistro where supporting local artists including DJs was as important as the grub. Now armed with that experience and a social network comprising the who’s who in culture here, this perennially slick dresser is ready to put the glamour back into partying with the EDITION’s “micro club” Wonder Room, and make it the nightlife destination to see and be seen at. Just two months into its launch and the intimate, opulently designed space (a dome ceiling, a gold bar, velvet everywhere) has already hosted several fashion parties and counts some of Singapore’s most stylish and in-demand DJs as residents (DJ Aldrin, Nicolette, Farah Farz, to name a few). Next, expect collaborations with local talents as part of its regular programming.

THE FIRST PARTY HE ATTENDED: “A house music night at the old Zouk on Jiak Kim Street in 1997 that’s kept me inspired till this day”

HIS VISION: “My role at the EDITION is to support and showcase our amazing talents. Whether they come from music, fashion, art or design, I will make sure that local names stay well represented throughout the hotel’s sphere.”

THE "CREW" BEHIND PHUTURE NOW

WHO THEY ARE: Namely Roman Kibe and David Long, who respectively came on board Zouk as group marketing director, and director of nightlife operations and VIP services in the first quarter of 2024; local hip‐hop DJ legend Rattle; the MC/hype man Aboo; and Zouk’s latest (and only female) resident DJ, Krisha

THEIR PARTY CRED: Well, one of the main reasons why we don’t have a photograph of this badass fam is because everyone’s calendar is so packed, it’s hard to catch all of them at once – and Kibe, the main spokesperson for this interview, reiterates plenty that it’s a team effort. Since they joined forces earlier this year, Phuture – the ground‐floor space within Zouk that is dedicated to hip‐hop and R&B – has essentially become lit again for a whole new generation of partygoers. Both creative and commercial types swarm its dance floor every weekend to get down to Rattle’s explosive brand of new‐school hip‐hop and Aboo’s boisterous chants – and on Wednesdays monthly for Krisha’s unexpected and infectious remixes of K‐pop hits (the former model hails from South Korea, and is equally versed with hard style, tech house and disco, earning residencies all over China and her native country). Ad hoc nights held in collaboration with independent collectives such as 808 – comprising rising and established local DJs such as Joshua Dillon and Bongomann – lend diversity, an experimental edge and even more vibes. Says Kibe: “We’ve been really intentional about engaging with Gen Zers. After the disruptions that came with the Covid‐19 pandemic, many of them missed out on the clubbing experience, and we knew we had to change that by creating a more welcoming and exciting environment … Now, they’re an integral part of our thriving community.”

THE PHUTURE CROWD: “Young and looking to have a good time” 

A SONG THAT REPRESENTS PHUTURE NOW: “Mamushi (featuring Yuki Chiba) by Megan Thee Stallion is popping off right now.”

WHAT PHUTURE SHOULD BEK NOWN FOR: “Being a home where the young can express themselves with no judgement and just have fun”

ADRIAN WEE

WHO HE IS: Affectionately known by his DJ moniker Weelikeme, he’s the fun‐loving co‐founder – and only original member – of the collective that started the party series Eatmepoptart (or EMPT for short), which has been getting partygoers of all ages dancing to alt rock, Britpop and indie music since 2004. Come Dec 21, Wee will draw the curtains on this well‐loved night with a final party at Phil’s Studio – a low‐key venue that pays ode to EMPT’s no‐frills beginnings – and divert his energy to other aspects of life, such as running his nearly two‐year‐old record store Bizarro Market on Aliwal Street.

HIS PARTY CRED: Wee got his start as a DJ spinning at the trendy progressive house and trance club Liquid Room – located in the now‐defunct Gallery Hotel – in the early 2000s, but it’s with EMPT that he has made his biggest mark on Singapore nightlife. Together with fellow DJs Jah and Zaidi, he launched the alternative and indie music night 20 years ago at what was then known as Mad Monks’ Bar (after many lives, this spot is now Iki by Ikigai). Their vision was a pure and simple one: play tunes they love as teenagers, and let everyone rock out and shimmy to them. While his co‐founders eventually dropped out due to personal commitments, this self‐described man‐child not only persisted, but also introduced new nights, such as the pop‐focused The Kids Are Alright, with other collaborators. Every party of his is a jaunty, feel‐good affair, as encapsulated in their humorous yet hyper‐stylish flyers, post‐party photo albums and cult following that spans Gen Z to Gen X. There’s no doubt that the crowd at EMPT’s swansong is going to be massive.

C2AC

WHO HE IS: Requesting to keep his name under wraps, this visual artist‐slash‐DJ has become a fixture behind the decks at Singapore’s hottest underground parties – in particular the ones organised by and for the queer and ballroom communities – in the past year and a half.

HIS PARTY CRED: He may seem soft‐spoken in person, but C2AC’s DJ sets and accompanying fits – which tend to include a mask that obscures most of his face, other subversive elements and, more recently, razor‐sharp suits – are anything but demure. After schooling himself the tricks of the trade through YouTube videos and listening intently to other DJ sets on SoundCloud, he scored his first gig back in 2018 (read: pre‐Covid‐19 pandemic) at a rave staged by the now‐defunct alternative techno party collective Horizon99. Since then, he has built a rep and following for hard‐hitting sets that playfully blend jersey club sounds with house, techno and a dash of pop, which would explain why he’s the go‐to DJ in the local kiki ball scene as well as the genre‐blending night Cvntessa. When C2AC’s on, prepare to sweat.

HIS FIRST PARTY: “I think it was at the old Zouk when I reached the prime age of 18. I remember hearing DVBSS & Borgeous’ iconic Tsunami playing that night. I only explored Singapore’s underground music scene in 2018 when I attended a rave on the rooftop of a building in Geylang. That was the first time I was introduced to deconstructed club and gabber music.”

WHAT HE LIKES ABOUT DJ‐ING: “Seeing people bopping to my selections” 

THE PARTIES HE RECOMMENDS: “The Cvntessa parties (organised under the Mismatch party series organised by Bobby Luo and Ritz Lim, and where C2AC spins regularly) are always bomb, especially when the dancers starting voguing to the beats on the dance floor. And shout‐out to Intervention too – I really love how various aspects of the arts, such as theatre, art and music, come together at its events … Actually, every single party matters and all the small, niche ones are really what makes our party scene grow.”

SOMETHING HE’D LIKE TO SEE IN SINGAPORE’S PARTY SCENE: “I hope to see parties end earlier in the night. Cab prices are expensive in Singapore, so can we all end in time to make it for the last train home?”

WAYNE LEE

WHO HE IS: The general manager of the art‐filled, fine‐dining restaurant‐by‐day, swish club‐by‐night HighHouse and Singapore’s tallest rooftop bar Nova, which jointly make up the ambitious lifestyle and entertainment destination spanning 16,000 sq ft that OUE Restaurants opened, across the 61st to 63rd floors of One Raffles Place, progressively in the past year. In short, he’s possibly the guy with the most daring task in Singapore nightlife at the moment: reshape what party culture entails and make people want to go out – and go out big – again. 

HIS PARTY CRED: Now, where do we start? This dapper, journalism‐trained musichead was the editor‐in‐chief of Juice – the wildly popular, now‐defunct Singapore nightlife publication that every partygoer wanted to be featured in – for nearly a decade in the 2000s. This led to a role at Singapore’s most iconic nightlife institution Zouk in 2011, first as its head of entertainment and then its general manager – a stint that would last an impressive 11 years and during which he oversaw the club’s move from its original, ultra‐nostalgic Jiak Kim Street address to its present‐day location at Clarke Quay. In the club industry here, you don’t get more pro than this. 

HIS FIRST PARTY: “Fatboy Slim at Zouk in 1998” 

A FAVOURITE MEMORY ON THE DANCE FLOOR: “The recent edition of Boiler Room at 25 Pasir Panjang in July was a good experience. The music, set‐up and crowd were great.” 

WHAT PARTY CULTURE IS LIKE NOW: “People are more conscious of their spending and need a strong reason to head out.” 

WHAT HE’S DOING ABOUT THIS: “Providing innovative content, good service and a value‐for‐money proposition ... In terms of content, for example, our focus remains on marrying music with art, working with local DJ collectives and visual artists and designers to create themed nights on a monthly basis. Our cocktail programme is also one of our key features – the menu is done in collaboration with renowned mixologist Jay Gray, but we’ve also kept our prices fair, with attractive golden hour offerings at both venues.” 

AN EMERGING NIGHTLIFE TREND: “The vibe dining concept of partying from dinner into
the late night!”

AUDREY CHOY

WHO SHE IS: The senior marketing manager of HighHouse and Nova, close collaborator to the venues’ general manager Wayne Lee and what we’d like to think of as the yin to his yang

HER PARTY CRED: If Lee’s trajectory reads like that of a model student in the school of nightlife, Choy’s leans towards that of a rebel (and is pretty brat). She first learnt the ropes working at Kinemat, the groundbreaking independent music event agency started by electronic music pioneer Donovan Wong, in 2010. That experience proved to be life‐changing: She went on to help take care of the marketing and programming of mega, ultra‐It nightspots such as Zirca and Avalon, which opened during that era. Innately indie in spirit, she also lent her progressive taste in music and style to smaller yet equally epic joints such as Cherry Discotheque, Canvas and Potato Head Folk, as well as started her own underground techno party series NoPartyHere, which was infamous for its unorthodox locations and even wilder sets (and this was in the early 2010s). Oh yeah, and she was head of marketing at Zouk from 2018 to 2020, where she first worked with Lee.

ON SUPERCLUB CULTURE: “Superclubs thrived in the 2000s, but by the 2010s, subcultures and their indie and underground parties started re‐emerging, just like back in the ’90s. Trends tend to be cyclical, so superclubs are likely to make a comeback, but I’m hopeful that this time, they’ll collaborate with independent party organisers – something I already see happening and that we do here ourselves at HighHouse and Nova – to create even better experiences for partygoers. It’s the best of both worlds.”

WHAT’S EXCITING ABOUT SINGAPORE NIGHTLIFE NOW: “Punters moving away from big‐room EDM and embracing genre‐less genres”

WHAT SHE WANTS TO SEE MORE OF: “More inclusivity, less exclusivity” 

AN EMERGING NIGHTLIFE TREND: “Yeah, eating, drinking and dancing all in one place is great – it saves on PHV (private hire vehicle) fares!”

SALOME BLAQUE

WHO SHE IS: The drag persona of fashion photographer Fadli Rahman – one of the most prominent faces and voices in the local drag community who upped her icon status on the scene by launching Tuckshop, billed as Singapore’s first drag bar, this May. Her responsibilities lie mainly in operations and the creative side of the business, including curating and managing every one of the performers and DJs.

HER PARTY CRED: For the past eight years or so, this ultra‐glamorous baddie has been cooking up her own independent nights at various locations both here and overseas. Tuckshop – opened with the help of investors who prefer to stay behind the scenes – is her answer to creating a permanent safe space where emerging and established queens can perform, and where the public can appreciate the art form, then have a good time on the dance floor themselves. Also, have you ever seen her working her boss energy at the door? Neil Road – where Tuckshop is located – has never had a fiercer or more fashionable queen.

WHAT TO HER MAKES A GOOD PARTY: “Definitely the talent line‐up – the choice of DJs, queens and dancers is so important when it comes to creating the right vibe. That and working with people who have good work ethics and don’t think that what they do in this line is just another job. It’s actually also someone else’s rice bowl.”

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE SHE FACES: “Knowing how to shut down and put my mind at rest, as it’s now always in work mode”

WHAT SHE WANTS TUCK SHOP TO BE KNOWN FOR: “For shaping Singapore’s drag scene by bringing best of the best to the stage, and looking out for and nurturing new, young talents while providing a safe space for all of them”

This article first appeared in the November 2024 Party Edition of FEMALE